U.S. patent application number 13/049145 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-20 for flush faced servers.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kathryn Marie Asad, John David Swansey, Robert Paul Tennant, Brian William Wallace.
Application Number | 20120236491 13/049145 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46828276 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120236491 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wallace; Brian William ; et
al. |
September 20, 2012 |
FLUSH FACED SERVERS
Abstract
A server chassis can include a server bay; and media drive bays
disposed adjacent to the server bay, each of the media drive bays
configured for receipt of a media drive seated in a media drive
tray, where each of the media drive bays includes a side wall,
where each of the side walls includes a recessed, front facing
surface (e.g., recessed from a front side of the chassis)
configured to support force exerted by rotation of a hinge end of a
handle of a media drive tray to extract the media drive tray from a
media drive bay and a stop configured to contact a locking tab
extending from a hinge end of a handle of a media drive tray to
lock the media drive tray in a media drive bay. Various other
apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Wallace; Brian William;
(Raleigh, NC) ; Swansey; John David; (Durham,
NC) ; Tennant; Robert Paul; (Raleigh, NC) ;
Asad; Kathryn Marie; (Cary, NC) |
Assignee: |
Lenovo (Singapore) Pte.
Ltd.
New Tech Park
SG
|
Family ID: |
46828276 |
Appl. No.: |
13/049145 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/679.33 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 1/187 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
361/679.33 |
International
Class: |
G06F 1/16 20060101
G06F001/16 |
Claims
1. A server chassis comprising: a server bay; and media drive bays
disposed adjacent to the server bay, each of the media drive bays
configured for receipt of a media drive seated in a media drive
tray, wherein each of the media drive bays comprises a side wall,
wherein each of the side walls comprises a recessed, front facing
surface configured to support force exerted by rotation of a hinge
end of a handle of a media drive tray to extract the media drive
tray from a media drive bay and a stop configured to contact a
locking tab extending from a hinge end of a handle of a media drive
tray to lock the media drive tray in a media drive bay.
2. The server chassis of claim 1 wherein each of the media drive
bays comprises a rectangular, horizontal orientation and wherein
each of the side walls comprises an individual, vertical side
wall.
3. The server chassis of claim 1 wherein each of the media drive
bays comprises a rectangular, vertical orientation and wherein each
of the side walls comprises a portion of a continuous horizontal
wall.
4. The server chassis of claim 1 further comprising, locked in a
first of the media drive bays, a first media drive seated in a
first media drive tray, and, locked in a second of the media drive
bays, a second media drive seated in a second media drive tray,
wherein a front surface of the first media drive tray aligns flush
with a front surface of the second media drive tray.
5. The server chassis of claim 1 further comprising, locked in one
of the media drive bays, a media drive seated in a media drive tray
and, seated in the server bay, a server.
6. The server chassis of claim 4 wherein the front surface of the
first media drive tray comprises a planar surface of a handle in a
closed orientation and wherein the front surface of the second
media drive tray comprises a planar surface of a handle in a closed
orientation.
7. The server chassis of claim 2 wherein each of the media drive
bays comprises a piece of metal shaped to form the recessed, front
facing surface and to define the stop.
8. The server chassis of claim 3 wherein the media drive bays
comprise a piece of sheet metal shaped to form a continuous
recessed, front facing surface and to define a plurality of
stops.
9. The server chassis of claim 1 further comprising media drive
trays locked in respective media drive bays wherein each media
drive tray comprises a visual status indicator.
10. The server chassis of claim 9 wherein an unobstructed
line-of-sight exists across the media drive trays locked in their
respective media drive bays for viewing of visual status indicators
of the media drive trays.
11. The server chassis of claim 2 wherein the media drive bays
comprise dimensions for receipt of 3.5 inch media drives seated in
respective media drive trays.
12. The server chassis of claim 3 wherein the media drive bays
comprise dimensions for receipt of 2.5 inch media drives seated in
respective media drive trays.
13. The server chassis of claim 1 further comprising an opening for
an optical drive.
14. The server chassis of claim 1 wherein each of the media drive
trays comprises handle vents, base vents and, for a closed
orientation of a handle with respect to a base, a gap disposed
between the handle vents and the base vents.
15. A method comprising: providing a media drive tray in a media
drive bay of a server unit, the media drive tray configured with a
handle rotatable in a first direction about a hinge to rotate a
locking tab of the handle into a socket of the media drive bay of
the server unit and rotatable in a second direction about the hinge
to contact a hinge end of the handle with a recessed, front facing
surface of the media drive bay of the server unit; drawing air
through air flow passages in a front side of the handle of the
media drive tray to cool a media drive seated in the media drive
tray and locked in the media drive bay of the server unit by the
locking tab; and drawing air through air flow passages in a front
side of the server unit wherein the front side of the handle and
the front side of the server unit align.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising providing a connector
of the media drive connected to a connector of the server unit
wherein, upon proper connection of the connectors, the front side
of the handle of the media drive tray that seats the media drive
and the front side of the server unit align.
17. The method of claim 15 further comprising emitting radiation
from a visual status indicator disposed on a front side of the
media drive tray wherein the emitting comprises emitting at least
some of the radiation un-obstructively across front sides of one or
more additional media drive trays seated in the server unit.
18. An assembly comprising: a server disposed in a server chassis
wherein the server comprises one or more processors configured to
execute instructions for communication with one or more media
drives; and media drives seated in respective media drive trays
disposed in respective media drive bays of the server chassis,
wherein each of the media drive bays comprises a side wall, wherein
each of the side walls comprises a front facing surface recessed
from a front side of the server chassis, the front facing surface
configured to support force exerted by rotation of a hinge end of a
handle of one of the media drive trays to extract the media drive
tray from a respective one of the media drive bays and a stop
configured to receive a locking tab extending from a hinge end of a
handle of the one of the media drive trays to lock the media drive
tray in the respective one of the media drive bays.
19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the media drive bays
comprises a rectangular, horizontal orientation and wherein each of
the side walls comprises an individual, vertical side wall.
20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein each of the media drive bays
comprises a rectangular, vertical orientation and wherein each of
the side walls comprises a portion of a continuous horizontal wall.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] Subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to
technology for server units and components thereof.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material to which a claim for copyright is made. The copyright
owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of
the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the
Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but reserves
all other copyright rights whatsoever.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Geometry of conventional rack-mounted server units can
include features that protrude and recesses into the surface of a
bezel making it difficult to identify status indicators (e.g.,
status lights), especially for media drives. For a user working in
a server farm with hundreds of units all stacked up in cabinets,
the visual calamity of multiple surfaces and placements of warning
lights lengthens the amount of time spent assessing problems. Also
determining proper seating for media drives becomes difficult where
a media drive assembly's front protrudes from a server unit's
surface. Conventional arrangements with protruding media drive
assemblies can confound a user's assessment as to whether a media
drive assembly and associated media drive connectors are properly
seated. Further, multiple protrusions and geometry of conventional
servers can pose risks such as snagging hands or clothing in
manufacturing, transportation, or in a user setting. As described
herein, server units and components can reduce visual complexity
and enhance server farm management.
SUMMARY
[0004] A server chassis can include a server bay; and media drive
bays disposed adjacent to the server bay, each of the media drive
bays configured for receipt of a media drive seated in a media
drive tray, where each of the media drive bays includes a side
wall, where each of the side walls includes a recessed, front
facing surface (e.g., recessed from a front side of the chassis)
configured to support force exerted by rotation of a hinge end of a
handle of a media drive tray to extract the media drive tray from a
media drive bay and a stop configured to contact a locking tab
extending from a hinge end of a handle of a media drive tray to
lock the media drive tray in a media drive bay. Various other
apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Features and advantages of the described implementations can
be more readily understood by reference to the following
description taken in conjunction with examples of the accompanying
drawings.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a series of diagram related to examples of servers
and server operations;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a series of diagrams of examples of bays and bay
components;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a series of views of an example of a tray for a
media drive;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a series of views of an example of a handle unit
for a media drive assembly;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a series of perspective views of an example of an
assembly with a media drive and a cross-sectional view of an
example of an assembly;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a series of views of an example of a media drive
assembly and a block diagram of a method;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a series of views of an example of a bay assembly
and views of a media drive assembly positioned with respect to a
bay component;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a series of views of examples of server units;
and
[0014] FIG. 9 is a diagram of an example of a machine.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] The following description includes the best mode presently
contemplated for practicing the described implementations. This
description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but rather is
made merely for the purpose of describing the general principles of
the implementations. The scope of the invention should be
ascertained with reference to the issued claims.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows an individual at a control station 101 where
the control station 101 may operate in conjunction with one or more
modules such as one or more of the monitoring and control modules
103. In the example of FIG. 1, the modules 103 include a power
module, a thermal module, a network module, a compute module and a
hardware module. The modules 103 may be configured to monitor and
control a group of servers 105, which may be arranged in rack
towers 107. For example, each of the rack towers 107 may include
one or more server unit 110. Each server unit 110 may include one
or more processing cores 112, memory 114, one or more interfaces
116 and one or more media drives 120. As an example, each server
unit 110 may be configured to access information stored in a media
drive 120, transfer accessed information to memory 114, perform
computational operations on information in memory 114 and
communicate results from computational operations via an interface
116 (e.g., a network interface). As another example, each server
unit 110 may be configured to receive information via an interface
116, transfer such information to memory 114 and store such
information in a media drive 120. As described herein, each server
unit 110 may be configured according to one or more of the
foregoing examples or additionally or alternatively according to
one or more other manners of operation. Further, as described
herein, a server unit includes a server chassis, for example,
configured from materials such as metal, plastic, etc., for seating
various components.
[0017] FIG. 1 also shows a computer room air conditioning (CRAC)
unit 109. The CRAC unit 109 is typically a device that monitors and
maintains temperature, air distribution and humidity in a network
room or data center. In the example of FIG. 1, the CRAC unit 109
may be controlled, monitored, etc., via the one or more modules 103
(e.g., via the control station 101). Mainframes and racks of
servers can get as hot as a seven-foot tower of powered toaster
ovens, so climate control is an important part of a data center's
infrastructure. There are a variety of ways that a CRAC unit can be
situated. As an example, a CRAC unit setup can process cooling air
and dispense the cooling air (e.g., through an elevated floor). In
such an example, cold air flows through the racks (e.g. from "cold
aisles") where it picks up heat before exiting from the rear of the
racks (e.g., to "hot aisles") and returns to the CRAC unit
intake(s). CRAC units in a data center can consume a large fraction
of total operational energy. For example, CRAC units may consume
25% or more of the total electricity used by a data center.
[0018] FIG. 1 shows two examples of server units 111 and 113. The
server units 111 and 113 have substantially rectangular faces
configured with bays that seat one or more media drives. As
described herein, a bay may refer to an opening defined by at least
two walls, which may be configured to receive one or more media
drives (e.g., in media drive trays). Each position in a bay
configured to receive more than one media drive may be referred to
as a media drive bay. Server units such as the units 111 and 113
may be stackable in the towers 107 of the group 105. The example
server unit 111 includes four horizontally oriented bays that seat
four media drives 121-1, 121-2, 121-3 and 121-4. The example server
unit 113 includes a large bay configured with eight vertically
oriented media drive bays that seat eight media drives 123-1,
123-2, 123-3, 123-4, 123-5, 123-6, 123-7 and 123-8. The server unit
113 also includes a flush, vented cover 117 that covers an
additional unused bay, which upon removal of the cover may
optionally seat up to eight additional media drives. As described
herein, a media drive may be a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state
drive, an optical drive or other type of media drive. A HDD may be
a standard 2.5 inch drive, a standard 3.5 inch drive or another
drive.
[0019] Where media drives generate heat, heat is transfer to a
cooling fluid (e.g., air), which causes the fluid to rise from an
inlet temperature T.sub.in to an outlet temperature T.sub.out.
Referring to the examples of FIG. 1, the server unit 111 allows for
flow around each media drive 121-1, 121-2, 121-3 and 121-4 as
seated in their respective bays. In the server unit 113, heat may
be transferred from a media drive (see, e.g., 123-1 to 123-8) to
cooling fluid flowing in a gap between adjacent media drives or
between a media drive and a wall component of a bay. Heat transfer
may be characterized at least in part by the equation:
.DELTA.Q/.DELTA.t=h.sub.plateA(T.sub.plate-T.sub.in). In this
equation, the flux of energy (.DELTA.Q/.DELTA.t) is equal to the
heat transfer coefficient for a plate (h.sub.plate), the area of
the plate (A) and the temperature difference between the plate and
the cooling fluid (T.sub.plate-T.sub.in). For such an equation, a
plate may be a surface of a media drive or other component of a
server unit. Heat transfer may optionally be characterized by
Reynolds number (ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces),
Prandtl number (ratio of kinematic viscosity and thermal
diffusivity), Nusselt number (ratio of convective to conductive
heat transfer across a surface) or Grashof number (ratio of the
buoyancy to viscous force acting on a fluid).
[0020] As described herein, velocity of cooling fluid can be
important for effective cooling and managing energy costs. In
particular, axial velocities (e.g., z direction into a bay) of
fluid flowing adjacent a media drive seated in a media drive
assembly can be important. As described herein, a media drive
assembly can act to increase heat transfer coefficient
(h.sub.plate), compared to a conventional media drive assembly.
Heat transfer depends on various factors. Where obstructions to
flow exist, flow is impeded, which diminishes momentum and
typically velocity (e.g., for constant cross-sectional flow area).
Accordingly, as described herein, various media drive assembly
components can allow for a more unimpeded flow and enhancement of
flux of energy from a media drive to a cooling fluid.
[0021] As described herein, various keyed components can ensure
that media drive assemblies are installed properly into a bay or
bays. For example, for the server unit 113, the media drives 123-1
to 123-8 are seated in a relatively uniform manner whereby
clearances and heat generation and transfer patterns may be fairly
well-known or otherwise understood a priori. More specifically,
where conventional components allow for more than one orientation
of a media drive in a bay, the selected orientation may not
correspond to the most favorable orientation for purposes of heat
transfer (e.g., for cooling). Indeed, one side of a media drive may
get hotter than another side and where multiple orientations are
possible, an operator may install two hot sides adjacent each
other. Such situations can give rise to local temperature control
issues, which may compromise operation (e.g., increase risk of
failure, decrease longevity, etc.). Accordingly, as described
herein, keyed components, optionally in combination with other
components or features, can act to decrease uncertainty as to
cooling and promote operational certainty.
[0022] FIG. 1 shows an example of a method 130 that includes an
alert block 132, a retrieval block 134, a locate block 136 and a
replace block 138. For example, a monitoring module may detect
failure of a component in the group 105 and, per the alert block
132, issue an alert. As described herein, an alert may include
lighting a diode associated with the failed component. For example,
each tower in a server group (or server farm) may include a series
of diodes where an alert causes emission of light from a diode
where the light is transmitted via a light pipe (or guide) to a
face of a server unit (see, e.g., end of light pipe 115 as
associated with the server unit 110). Per the method 130, a
retrieval block 134 calls for retrieval of a replacement component,
which may be a manual or automated (e.g., robotic) process. Per the
locate block 136, the failed component is located, for example, by
an operator that may visually inspect the towers and associated
server units to locate the particular, failed component. Again, in
the example of FIG. 1, the light pipe end 115 facilitates visual
location of a failed component. Once located, per the replace block
138, an operator may remove the failed component and replace it
with the retrieved replacement component.
[0023] In general, the method 130 should be performed in a timely
and accurate manner. As described herein, a server unit may include
a substantially flush face such that visual inspection of a tower
or group of towers readily reveals a status indicator (e.g., diode,
end of light pipe, etc.). For example, the server unit 111 or the
server unit 113 may be configured with a substantially flush face
to avoid blocking emission of light from a status indicator and to
allow for viewing of a status indicator from wide angles and many
lines of sight. For example, the server unit 113 includes the media
drive 123-6 with a status indicator 125 that can emit light in wide
angle cone, substantially free from interference from other
features of the server unit 113. As described herein, keyed
components (e.g., of a bay, a tray, a bay and tray, etc.) that
promote uniformity can also decrease visual complexity and allow
for an enhanced visual environment that facilitates locating and
replacing troubled components.
[0024] Referring to the example server units 111 and 113, visual
uniformity is enhanced by providing media drive assemblies with
vented handles where the vents have a pattern that matches other
vent patterns of the server units 111 and 113. For example, the
server units 111 and 113 include rectangular air flow passages over
various portions of their faces, including the handles of the media
drive assemblies 121-1, 121-2 and 121-3 as well was 123-1 to 123-8.
Accordingly, when a status light is illuminated, the reduced visual
complexity of the vents actually enhances a user's ability to
locate the illuminated status light. Further, where the server
units 111 and 113 are provided in a dark finish (e.g., black
finish), contrast between a face of a server unit and an
illuminated status light is enhanced. As mentioned, keyed
components can act to ensure that handles face the same direction,
which can reduce confusion and expedite replacement of a media
drive (e.g., a media drive of a media drive assembly seated in a
bay).
[0025] FIG. 2 shows views of some examples of bays 210 and 260 and
a bay component 270. The bay 210 is configured to accommodate eight
media drives oriented vertically (e.g., eight individual media
drive bays) and the bay 260 is configured to accommodate two media
drives oriented horizontally between an end wall and an interior
wall, two interior walls or two end walls (e.g., two individual
media drive bays). The bay component 270 is formed from two plates
271 and 273, bent to form a base 272, and an end cover 275 (e.g.,
formed by a 180 degree bend of the plate 273) where each of the
plates 271 and 273 is configured to abut an edge of a rail attached
to a media drive along one or more punch-out portions or
protrusions 277 and 279 that extend outwardly from respective
plates 271 and 273. As described herein, by bending the plate 273
by 180 degrees, the end thickness is doubled, which provides for
additional integrity to a surface 274. As described herein, the
surface 274 can be leveraged by an end of a handle to translate a
media drive assembly (e.g., to extract a media drive assembly from
a bay).
[0026] Referring to the bay 210, for each media drive position in
the large bay, a first front facing surface 212 steps to a shoulder
with a recessed, second front facing surface 214. The recessed
front facing surface 214 of the shoulder rises to a flat surface
which extends inwardly in the bay to a stop surface 216, which may
be, for example, an edge of an opening 218. As described herein,
for the bay 210, the surface 212 may be a surface of a bezel
component 211 while the recessed surface 214 and the stop 216 may
be surfaces of a bay component 213 that abuts the bezel component
211. The bay component 213 includes protrusions 217 that separate
media drive positions and define slots where the protrusions 217
are configured to abut at least one edge of a rail attached to a
media drive (e.g., one edge of one rail of a media drive and one
edge of another rail of another media drive). As described herein,
each of the protrusions 217 and each of the openings 218 may
optionally be formed by punching a piece of sheet metal. In the
example of FIG. 2, a top side of the bay 210 includes a series of
nubs 219 that separate media drive positions and define slots where
the series of nubs 219 are configured to abut at least one edge of
a rail attached to a media drive (e.g., one edge of one rail of a
media drive and one edge of another rail of another media
drive).
[0027] Referring to the bay 260, a first front facing surface 262
steps to a shoulder with a recessed, second front facing surface
264. The recessed front facing surface 264 traverses to a curved
surface that extends inwardly to a stop 266, which may be, for
example, an edge of an opening 268. As mentioned, the bay 260 is
configured to receive two media drives, stacked and oriented
horizontally. The bay 260 includes sets of protrusions 267 on one
side and sets of protrusions 269 on another side. For example, a
lower set of protrusions provide for alignment of an upper edge of
a rail attached to a first media drive seated in a lower bay
position as well as alignment of a lower edge of another rail
attached to a second media drive seated in an upper bay position
while an upper set of protrusions provide for alignment of a lower
edge of the rail attached to the second media drive seated in the
upper bay position.
[0028] Various features of the bay component 270 appear
correspondingly in the bay 260. For example, the surface 274
corresponds to the recessed surface 264, the stop 276 corresponds
to the stop 266, and the opening 278 corresponds to the opening
268. Noting that the bay 260 includes one set of features for each
media drive position. As shown in the example of FIG. 2, by folding
an end of the plate 273 180 degrees, the thickness is doubled and
the stop 276 may be formed or strengthened. As described herein,
such a fold (or bend) can provide for the surface 274 and the stop
276, with sufficient integrity to lock a media drive assembly in a
bay (i.e., via the stop 276) and to extract a media drive assembly
from a bay (i.e., via the surface 274), for example, to translate
the media drive assembly a distance that decouples a connector.
[0029] In the examples of FIG. 2, each of the bays 210 and 260 has
keyed components. More specifically, each individual media drive
bay has a side with a small clearance height HS and a side with a
large clearance height HL. For example, the plate 271 of the bay
component 270 has a small clearance height HS defined by the
protrusions 277 while the plate 273 of the bay component 270 has a
large clearance height HL defined by the protrusions 279. Hence,
the bay component 270 is a keyed component that defines, in part,
two media drive bays. As described in more detail below, the
component 270 can cooperate with a keyed rail of one media drive
tray and a keyed rail of an adjacent media drive tray to ensure
installation of the media drive trays in a uniform manner.
[0030] Also shown in FIG. 2, for the plate 271 of the bay component
270, the protrusions 277 define a clearance height HS that is less
than the height of the surface 274. Such an arrangement allows for
the surface 274 to be curved inward as a rail that defines the
width of tray portion of a media drive assembly need only clear the
portion of the bay below the height of the protrusions 277 (height
HS).
[0031] FIG. 3 shows various views of an example of a tray 300 with
rails 320 and 330 configured for attachment to a media drive. In
the example of FIG. 3, the tray 300 includes a front plate 310 with
a front surface 311 and a back surface 313. As shown, the rails 320
and 330 extend outwardly from the back surface 311 perpendicular to
a plane defined by the front plate 310. The front plate 310
includes opposing sides 312 and 314, a top edge 316 and a bottom
edge 318. The front plate 310 includes features 315-1 and 315-2 for
attachment to a handle unit (e.g., to facilitate installation and
removal of a media drive from a bay). The front plate 310 also
includes passages 317 for flow of air, for example, for cooling a
media drive secured in the tray 310 and seated in a bay.
[0032] In the example of FIG. 3, the rails 320 and 330 are
different. Specifically, one rail has a different configuration
than the other rail; accordingly, the rails are asymmetric (i.e.,
not merely right hand/left hand mirror images) and, as described
herein, keyed. As shown in the example of FIG. 3, the rail 320 is
larger with a greater height (HL) than the rail 330 (HS). Further,
the rail 320 includes at least one light guide 325 and 327 (e.g.,
for transmitting light signals as to status of a media drive,
etc.). The rail 320 has a free end 322, a bay side surface 321, a
media drive side surface 323, a lower edge 326 and an upper edge
328. In the example of FIG. 3, the rail 320 includes attachment
features 324-1 and 324-2 as well as openings 329-1 and 329-2. As
described herein, the free end 322 may be shaped to facilitate
insertion. For example, one or more of the edges 326 and 328 may be
beveled (e.g., chamfered or sloped) to facilitate alignment and
ease of fit with respect to corresponding features of a bay (see,
e.g., the protrusions 279).
[0033] As shown, the rail 330 is smaller with a smaller height (HS)
than the rail 320 (HL). The rail 330 has a free end 332, a bay side
surface 331, a media drive side surface 333, a lower edge 336 and
an upper edge 338. In the example of FIG. 3, the rail 330 includes
attachment features 334-1 and 334-2 as well as openings 339-1 and
339-2. As described herein, the free end 332 may be shaped to
facilitate insertion. For example, one or more of the edges 336 and
338 may be beveled (e.g., chamfered or sloped) to facilitate
alignment and ease of fit with respect to corresponding features of
a bay (see, e.g., the protrusions 277).
[0034] Referring again to FIG. 2, the clearances HL and HS of the
component 270 may be configured to accommodate the rail 320 of
height HL and the rail 330 of height HS. For example, a single
media drive position in a bay may be defined as existing between
two of the components 270 such that, for the tray 300, the edge 328
of the rail 320 abuts protrusions 279 of one component 270 and the
edge 338 of the rail 330 abuts protrusions 277 of another component
270. In another example, one side of a media drive position in a
bay may be a wall (e.g., a server unit wall or a rack wall) that
includes protrusions that define a clearance HS or HL. In yet other
examples, spaced walls may include protrusions; one wall with
defined clearances HS and the other wall with defined clearances HL
(see, e.g., the bay 210 of FIG. 2). Further, as shown in the bay
260 of FIG. 2, a wall component may define slots for multiple media
drive assemblies (see, e.g., sets of protrusions 267 that define
small clearances and sets of protrusions 269 that define larger
clearances).
[0035] FIG. 4 shows a handle unit 440, which is an assembly of
components. In the example of FIG. 4, the handle unit 440 includes
a base 450 and a handle 460. The base 450 includes a front side
451, a back side 453, a hinge end 452 having a hinge axis 442 and
an opposing end 454. The handle 460 includes a front side 461, a
back side 463, a hinge end 462, a locking tab 465, a swing end 464
and a latching surface 467 accessible via a framed opening at the
swing end 464. In FIG. 4, a dashed line indicates the position of
the hinge axis 442, either along the axis or at the end of the
axis. A pin or pins may act to define the hinge axis 442 and
provide for rotation of the handle 460 with respect to the base
450.
[0036] As described herein, the handle 440 is configurable in a
locked orientation and an unlocked orientation with respect to the
base 450 where the locked orientation corresponds to a locked angle
of rotation of the handle 460 about the hinge axis 442 having an
end of the locking tab 465 rotated outwardly away from the hinge
end 452 of the base 450, the swing end 464 of the handle 460
rotated inwardly toward the base 450 and the hinge end of the base
452 extending outwardly beyond the hinge end 462 of the handle 460
and where the unlocked orientation corresponds to an unlocked angle
of rotation of the handle 460 about the hinge axis 442 having an
end of the locking tab 452 rotated inwardly toward the hinge end
452 of the base 450, the swing end 464 of the handle 460 rotated
outwardly away from the base 450 and the hinge end 462 of the
handle 460 extending outwardly beyond the hinge end 452 of the base
450.
[0037] In the locked orientation, air may flow through air flow
passages 416 of the handle 460 and air flow passages 415 of the
base 450. Such passages may allow for flow of air via passages 317
of the front plate 310 of the tray 300 where the tray is attached
to the base 450 (see, e.g., posts 417-1 and 417-2, which may
cooperate with features 315-1 and 315-2 of the tray 300 via screws,
plugs, bolts, etc.).
[0038] FIG. 4 shows distances a, b and c, which correspond to
dimensions measured from the hinge axis 442 to the hinge end 462 of
the handle 460 ("a"), the hinge axis 442 to an end of the locking
tab 465 ("b") and from the hinge axis 442 to the hinge end of the
base 452 ("c"). Accordingly, in the locked orientation, the hinge
end 452 of the base 450 extends outwardly beyond the hinge end 462
of the handle 460 (i.e., c>a). Such an arrangement allows for
the hinge end 462 of the handle 460 to contact a recessed surface
(see, e.g., surfaces 214, 264 or 274) of a bay component and allow
the handle 460 to be flush with a surface of a server rack or unit
(see, e.g., surfaces 212 or 262).
[0039] Also shown in the example of FIG. 4, the locking tab 465 is
positioned along an upper half of the assembly 440 and opposite the
side with one or more status indicators 445 and 447 (see, e.g.,
light guides 325 and 327 of FIG. 3). Such an arrangement of
features allows for the smaller rail 330 (e.g., without the light
guides) to be positioned below the surface 274 of the bay component
270 (e.g., aligned per the protrusion 277) where the surface 274
can be curved inwardly towards the bay and available as a contact
point for leverage by a biasing surface of the hinge end 462 of the
handle 460. As shown in the bay 260 of FIG. 2, a bay component may
include one such surface per media drive position in a bay, which,
upon assembly of a bay, becomes a recessed surface (e.g., in
comparison to the surface 262).
[0040] In the example of FIG. 4, a release button 470 is seated in
the base 450, which may release the swing end 464 of the handle 460
when depressed (e.g., a predetermined distance to release a prong
497 of a latch 490 that from contact with the latching surface 467
of the handle 460). Further, a spring 444 biases the handle 460
about the hinge axis 442 with respect to the base 450. Accordingly,
upon release of the swing end 464, the spring 444 causes the swing
end 464 of the handle 460 to swing outwardly, rotating about the
hinge axis 442 such that the hinge end 462 and the locking tab 465
rotate inwardly. As shown in the example of FIG. 4, the locking tab
465 rotates inwardly to a chamber 455 at the hinge end 452 of the
base 450.
[0041] In the example of FIG. 4, a handle stop mechanism 420
includes a stop 425 set in the chamber 455 that can stop rotation
of the handle 460 by contacting the locking tab 465. Specifically,
as the handle 460 rotates about the hinge axis 442, the locking tab
465 rotates into the chamber 455 and eventually contacts the stop
425, which provides for a pre-determined angle of rotation of the
handle 460. As described herein, the stop angle can determine the
position of a grip 433 of the handle 460 with respect to the base
450. For example, the stop angle (e.g., configuration of the
locking tab 465 and the stop 425) can allow for positioning the
grip 433 approximately mid-way between the hinge end 452 and the
opposing end 454 of the base 450. In such a position, force may be
relatively evenly applied to extract a media drive assembly from a
bay. Specifically, the angle of rails with respect to bay features
may be favorable for minimizing friction or wear.
[0042] FIG. 5 shows perspective views of an example of an assembly
520 that includes a media drive 530 and a cross-sectional view of
an example of an assembly 540. The assembly 520 includes the tray
300 and the handle unit 440. In the example of FIG. 5, the rail
330, which has a smaller height (e.g., along a y-coordinate)
compared to the rail 320, is attached to a side of the media drive
530 that corresponds to the hinge end 462 of the handle 460, as
well as the locking tab 465. The arrangement of these features, in
conjunction with features of a bay, can allow for the handle 460 to
be flush with a face of a server unit (or rack) or optionally even
recessed from a face of a server unit (or rack).
[0043] Also shown in FIG. 5 is a gap 525 between the front plate
310 of the tray 300 and a front surface of the media drive 530. The
gap 525 has a dimension .DELTA.z.sub.G, which allows for flow of
air from the various air passages of the handle 460, the base 450
and the front plate 310. The distance of the gap 525 may be
determined, at least in part, by the attachment features 324-1 and
324-2 of the rail 320 and the attachment features 334-1 and 334-2
of the rail 330. FIG. 5 further shows springs 522-1 and 522-2 fit
to the rail 320 via the openings 329-1 and 329-2, respectively, and
springs 523-1 and 523-2 fit to the rail 330 via the opening 339-1
and 339-2, respectively. The springs 522-1, 522-2, 523-1 and 523-2
provide for biasing the assembly 520 in a bay, for example, against
bay plates. Such springs can act to improve fit in a bay and reduce
transmission of vibrations from a bay to a media drive and vice
versa. An assembly may include other types of springs or clips, for
example, clips 527 mounted between the base 450 and the front plate
310 of the tray 300 can improve fit and reduce transmission of
vibrations and springs 529 mounted on each side of the base 450
between the base 450 and a respective rail 320 and 330 of the tray
300 can improve fit and reduce transmission of vibrations.
[0044] In the example of FIG. 5, the media drive 530 is shown as
having a back side connector or connectors 536 configured for
connecting the media drive 530 to a power source, information bus,
etc. In the example of FIG. 5, the connector 536 has a depth
dimension (.DELTA.z), which represents a sliding distance, for
example, between two components from being in contact with each
other to fully connected or from fully connected to being
disconnected from each other. Connector components should be
appropriately positioned and moved with some assurances of
alignment to avoid abnormal wear, misconnection or failure. In
particular, electrical contact between mating connector surfaces
should be maintained upon installation of the assembly 520 in a bay
and, upon removal, sliding of the mating connector surfaces should
occur with relatively uniform motion in a uniform manner (e.g., to
provide assurances as to durability, cycling, etc.).
[0045] As described herein, a server unit or sever chassis can
include one of more types of bays for receipt of one or more types
of media drives where each drive is carried in a tray with a handle
unit, sometimes referred to as a caddy. Such media drives may
optionally be of a so-called "small form factor" (SFF), for
example, consider the SFF 3.5 inch or SFF 2.5 inch standards, which
are common for hard disk drives (HDDs).
[0046] The assembly 520 and the assembly 540 of FIG. 5 are shown as
including status indicators 445 and 447 and 545 and 547, which may
be ends of light pipes or guides. In the cross-sectional view of
the assembly 540, the light guides are shown as passing through a
base 550. The cross-sectional view also shows other components such
as a handle 560, a button 570, and a latch 590 in an alternative
configuration compared to the configuration of the handle unit
440.
[0047] FIG. 6 shows various views of the assembly 520 with respect
to server chassis surfaces 612 and 614 and a block diagram of an
example of a method 650.
[0048] As shown in a top view example of FIG. 6, the handle 460 is
rotated open an angle .THETA., which is predetermined by the stop
mechanism 420. In such an open orientation, force applied via the
grip 433 of the handle 460 is transferred to the base 450 and the
assembly for removal from a bay. For example, consider the hinge
end 462 of the handle 460 in contact with the front facing recessed
surface 614 (see, e.g., surfaces 214, 264 and 274 of FIG. 2).
[0049] In the example of FIG. 6, the grip 433 of the handle 460 has
a substantially triangular shape. An inwardly facing surface 435 of
the grip is shown as being substantially parallel to the front side
451 of the base 450. As described herein, the orientation of the
surface or frame 435 allows for application of force by a user's
hand 601, in particular, an index finger 603 while the user may
also contact the front side 461 of the handle 460, for example,
with a thumb 605 (shown, e.g., with a finger or thumbnail 607).
While a right hand is shown in FIG. 6, the assembly may be
configured for a left hand or installed in a bay such that the
handle opens in a counter-clockwise rather than a clockwise
manner.
[0050] Additional views of FIG. 6 show the first front facing
surface 612; the recessed, second front facing surface 614 (see,
e.g., the surface 274 of the component 270); and a stop 616 (see,
e.g., the stop 276 of the component 270). In the example of FIG. 6,
for a closed or locked orientation, the handle 460 is aligned flush
with the first front facing surface 612 while the locking tab 465
is received by an opening (see, e.g., the openings 218 and 278 of
FIG. 2) where the stop 616 is an edge of the opening. Accordingly,
the stop 616 prevents forward movement of the handle unit 440 with
respect to the bay and thereby acts to lock the handle unit 440 in
the bay. In such a locked orientation, the angle of rotation of the
handle 460 with respect to the base 450 may be considered
approximately 0 degrees. Further, in the locked orientation, the
hinge end 452 of the base 450 extends outwardly beyond the hinge
end 462 of the handle 460.
[0051] Upon release of the swing end 464 of the handle 460 (e.g.,
by depressing the button 470 or other release mechanism), the
handle 460 rotates about the hinge axis 442, optionally assisted by
the spring 444, to an open or unlocked orientation. Rotation of the
handle 460 results in the hinge end 462 extending outwardly beyond
the hinge end 452 of the base 450 to allow for contact with the
recessed surface 614 (see, e.g., radius of dashed circle as to
movement of the hinge end 462 of the handle 460).
[0052] Where the spring 444 acts to bias the handle 460 with
respect to the base 450, the spring 444 may rotate the handle 460
about the hinge axis 442 to an angle (or an angle interval) that
brings the hinge end 462 of the handle 460 in contact with the
second front facing surface 612. Upon further rotation of the
handle 460 about the hinge axis 442, the handle unit 440 is
translated forward in the bay (e.g., consider angle interval
.DELTA..THETA.). According to the example of FIG. 6, the handle 460
is configured to rotate an amount (e.g., an angle interval) about
the hinge axis 442 whereby contact between the hinge end 462 and
the front facing surface 614 of a bay causes translation of an
assembly a distance sufficient to disconnect (e.g., decouple)
electrical contacts of one or more connectors of a media drive of
the assembly (see, e.g., the dimension .DELTA.z).
[0053] In the example of FIG. 6, the method 650 includes a
provision block 652 for providing a media drive tray (e.g., a media
drive assembly that includes a tray and handle unit) in a media
drive bay of a server unit where the media drive tray is configured
with a handle rotatable in a first direction about a hinge to
rotate a locking tab of the handle into a socket of the media drive
bay of the server unit and rotatable in a second direction about
the hinge to contact a hinge end of the handle with a recessed,
front facing surface of the media drive bay of the server unit. The
method 650 further includes a draw block 654 for drawing air
through air flow passages in a front side of the handle of the
media drive tray to cool a media drive seated in the media drive
tray and locked in the media drive bay of the server unit by the
locking tab and for drawing air through air flow passages in a
front side of the server unit where the front side of the handle
and the front side of the server unit align. In the example of FIG.
6, the method 650 also includes an emission block 656 for emitting
radiation from a visual status indicator disposed on a front side
of the media drive tray where the emitting includes emitting at
least some of the radiation un-obstructively across front sides of
one or more additional media drive trays seated in the server
unit.
[0054] As described herein, a method can include providing a
connector of a media drive connected to a connector of a server
unit where, upon proper connection of the connectors, a front side
of the handle of the media drive tray that seats the media drive
and a front side of the server unit align.
[0055] As described herein, a method can include receiving a media
drive tray in a media drive bay of a server unit; pivoting a handle
of the media drive tray about a hinge to rotate a locking tab of
the handle into a socket of the media drive bay of the server unit;
latching the handle of the media drive tray; and drawing air
through the handle of the media drive tray to cool a media drive
seated in the media drive tray and locked in the media drive bay of
the server unit. Such a method may further include repeating the
receiving, the pivoting and the latching for one or more additional
media drive trays. Further, such a method may include emitting
radiation from a visual status indicator disposed on a front side
of one of the media drive trays where the emitting includes
emitting at least some of the radiation un-obstructively across
respective front sides of one or more of the other media drive
trays.
[0056] FIG. 7 shows various views of an assembly 700 that includes
an elongated U-shaped component 720 with a series of bay components
270-1, 270-2 and 270-3 attached thereto to form four separate media
drive positions (e.g., bay 1, bay 2, bay 3 and bay 4). FIG. 7 also
shows a front view and a side view of portions of the assembly 440
with respect to the bay component 270 along with distances or
dimensions a, b and c as well as d, which represents a distance or
dimension between the surface 274 and a front surface of the handle
460. According to the example of FIG. 7, as the handle 460 rotates,
the hinge end 462 of the handle 460 contacts the front facing
surface 274 of the bay component 270, which forces the assembly 440
to translate outwardly with respect to the bay component 270. In
the example of FIG. 7, the location of the curved surface 274 is
above the protrusion 277, which is configured to accommodate a rail
attached to a media drive (see, e.g., smaller rail 330 of FIG. 3).
In various examples, the distance between a hinge axis and a
biasing edge of a hinge end of a handle (see, e.g., dashed circle
in FIG. 6) may determine, in part, dimensions a, b and c or
relationships between two or more of these dimensions. Further, the
shape or dimensions of the surface 274 of the component 270 may
depend on a distance between a hinge axis and a biasing edge of a
hinge end of a handle.
[0057] In FIG. 7, a side view of the bay component 270 and the
assembly 440 indicates alignment of the locking tab 465 with
respect to the stop 276 and the opening 278 of the bay component
270. Similar arrangements may exist between an assembly and
features of the bay 210 of FIG. 2, between an assembly and features
of the bay 260 of FIG. 2, etc. As indicated, the arrangement of the
locking tab 465 with respect to the stop 276 may determine, at
least in part, the dimension d (e.g., distance between the surface
274 and the front of the handle 460).
[0058] Referring to the assembly 700, dashed lines indicate how a
handle of a media drive assembly may open if positioned in one of
the bays. As described herein, the assembly 700 may be part of the
server unit 111 of FIG. 1. For example, a surface 728 of the
assembly 700 may be a top surface where bases of the components
270-1, 270-2 and 270-3 may be attached to a lower surface plate. As
shown in the example of FIG. 7, tabs may extend from the various
components of the assembly 700 for attachment of components of a
server unit (e.g., optical drives, computing components, etc.). A
dotted line 701 indicates the position of a component of a server
unit, which may optionally be mounted flush with handles of media
drive assemblies seated in the bays (bay 1, bay 2, bay 3 and bay
4).
[0059] In various examples, a handle is shown as having a
substantially rectangular shape having a length and a height where
a locking tab of the handle has a height less than approximately
one-half the height of the handle. As described herein, a hinge end
of a handle can include a biasing edge that has a height
approximately equal to the height of the handle. However, in
various examples, the entire length of a biasing edge may not
contact a front facing surface of a bay component (see, e.g., FIG.
7). As described herein, a handle may include a biasing edge that
has a length matched to length of a front facing surface of a bay
component (e.g., consider a biasing edge matched to the surface 274
of the bay component 270).
[0060] As mentioned, geometry of conventional rack-mounted server
units can include features that protrude and recesses into the
surface of a bezel making it difficult to identify status
indicators, especially for media drives. For a user working in a
server farm with hundreds of units all stacked up in cabinets, the
visual calamity of multiple surfaces and placements of warning
lights lengthens the amount of time spent assessing problems. Also
determining proper seating for media drives becomes difficult where
a media drive assembly's front protrudes from a server unit's
surface. Conventional arrangements with protruding media drive
assemblies can confound a user's assessment as to whether a media
drive assembly and associated media drive connectors are properly
seated. Further, multiple protrusions and geometry of conventional
servers can pose risks such as snagging hands or clothing in
manufacturing, transportation, or in a user setting.
[0061] As described herein, various server units can include front
panels that align in a single vertical plane. A flush face without
protrusions or with judiciously selected minimal protrusions can
improve a person's view of status indicators when looking up or
down a rack face from close proximity or looking across a series of
racks where a rack with an indicator may be at a distance from the
viewer (e.g., several towers or more away). A flush face can also
prevent snagging of hands or clothing on protruding elements.
[0062] As described herein, media drive assemblies and blank
fillers (e.g., covers) can provide for unified flat vertical
surfaces which when fully seated align in the same plane as other
server unit front panels. In such an arrangement, it can be quite
easy to tell (e.g., by a quick glance or by feel), whether media
drives are all properly seated in their cages. For example, a media
drive assembly that was improperly seated would be immediately
noticeable, as it would not be flush with the face of the server
unit. A flush face server unit creates an environment free of
visual clutter allowing the user to easily determine which unit or
tray is in distress. As to tactile inspection, a person may sweep a
hand across the front of a server unit to tactilely assess whether
all media drives (e.g., as in media drive assemblies) are properly
seated.
[0063] As described herein, flush faced server units with different
configurations may be stacked (e.g., horizontally, vertically,
etc.) where a tab extends from each server unit to help distinguish
visually, tactilely or visually and tactilely one server unit from
another. Such a tab may be for extracting a card that contains
information germane to a server unit. A tab may be colored with a
color that contrasts with the color of a face of a server unit to
facilitate locating the tab (e.g., consider contrast between a red
tab and a black faced server unit).
[0064] FIG. 8 shows examples of server units 810 and 830 and a
stack 850 that includes multiple server units. Top views, bottom
views and side views of the server units 810 and 830 and a side
view of the stack 850 illustrate flush faced regions, particularly
flush faced media drive assembly regions for media drive assemblies
that include status indicators.
[0065] The server unit 810 includes a chassis front plate or panel
812 that fits to a chassis with a top side 814, a bottom side 816,
a left side 818 and a right side 819. The assembly 700 of FIG. 7
may be part of the server unit 810 (e.g., consider apertures of a
base 272 aligned with apertures in the bottom side 816 of the
server unit 810 to fix the assembly 700 within the server unit
810). In the example of FIG. 8, four media drive assemblies 820 are
shown seated in the server unit 810 where each assembly includes
one or more status indicators 825. The server unit 810 includes a
tab 811 that has a substantially rectangular cross-section and
profiles. The tab 811 is positioned in a manner that aims to avoid
or minimize obstructing views of each of the status indicators 825
of the media drive assemblies 820. Also shown in the example of
FIG. 8 are moniker plates 813, which are optional and may extend
outwardly a small distance (e.g., less than about 10 mm).
[0066] The server unit 830 includes a chassis front plate or panel
832 that fits to a chassis with a top side 834, a bottom side 836,
a left side 838 and a right side 839. Eight media drive assemblies
840 are shown seated in the server unit 830 where each assembly
includes one or more status indicators 845. A vented cover panel
837 is shown as covering a bay configured to seat an additional
eight media drive assemblies. The server unit 830 includes a tab
831 that has a substantially rectangular cross-section and
profiles. The tab 831 is positioned in a manner that aims to avoid
or minimize obstructing views of each of the status indicators 845
of the media drive assemblies 840. Also shown in the example of
FIG. 8 are moniker plates 833, which are optional and may extend
outwardly a small distance (e.g., less than about 10 mm). Further,
the server unit 830 is shown as including a connector 841, which
may extend outwardly a small distance from the face of the server
unit 830.
[0067] In the example of FIG. 8, the stack 850 includes server
units 810-1, 810-2, 810-3 and 830. The server units are
approximately equal in width from left side to right side, which
allows for uniform, aligned stacks. A side view illustrates how
faces of the server units 810-1, 810-2, 810-3 and 830 align.
Referring again to FIG. 1, a tower may include a stack such as the
stack 850. As described herein, a stack may be of same type server
units or different type server units (e.g., all configured as the
server unit 810 or the server unit 830 or a mix thereof).
[0068] As described herein, a server chassis can include a server
bay; and media drive bays disposed adjacent to the server bay, each
of the media drive bays configured for receipt of a media drive
seated in a media drive tray, where each of the media drive bays
includes a side wall, where each of the side walls includes a
recessed, front facing surface configured to support force exerted
by rotation of a hinge end of a handle of a media drive tray to
extract the media drive tray from a media drive bay and a stop
configured to contact a locking tab extending from a hinge end of a
handle of a media drive tray to lock the media drive tray in a
media drive bay. Such a sever chassis can include, locked in one of
the media drive bays, a media drive seated in a media drive tray
and, seated in the server bay, a server configured to access the
media drive (e.g., via a connection formed by a media drive
connector connected to a server connector).
[0069] As described herein, a server chassis can include media
drive bays with a rectangular, horizontal orientation where a side
wall of each bay is an individual, vertical side wall. As described
herein, a server chassis can include media drive bays with a
rectangular, vertical orientation wherein a side wall of each bay
is a portion of a continuous horizontal wall.
[0070] As described herein, a server chassis can include, locked in
a first media drive bay, a first media drive seated in a first
media drive tray, and, locked in a second media drive bay, a second
media drive seated in a second media drive tray, where a front
surface of the first media drive tray aligns flush with a front
surface of the second media drive tray. In such a server chassis,
the front surface of the first media drive tray may be a planar
surface of a handle in a closed orientation and the front surface
of the second media drive tray may be a planar surface of a handle
in a closed orientation.
[0071] As described herein, a server chassis can include, for each
media drive bay, a piece of metal shaped to form a recessed, front
facing surface and to define a stop (e.g., to stop a locking tab of
a media drive tray). As described herein, a server chassis can
include media drive bays where a piece of sheet metal is shaped to
form a continuous recessed, front facing surface and to define a
plurality of stops (e.g., to stop locking tabs of media drive
trays).
[0072] As described herein, a server chassis can include media
drive trays locked in respective media drive bays where each media
drive tray includes a visual status indicator. In such an
arrangement, an unobstructed line-of-sight can exist across the
media drive trays locked in their respective media drive bays for
viewing of visual status indicators of the media drive trays.
[0073] As described herein, a server chassis can include media
drive bays with dimensions for receipt of 3.5 inch media drives
seated in respective media drive trays or media drive bays with
dimensions for receipt of 2.5 inch media drives seated in
respective media drive trays or combinations thereof and optionally
one or more bays for other types of media drives. For example, a
server chassis may include an opening or bay for an optical
drive.
[0074] As described herein, a server chassis can include media
drive trays with handle vents, base vents and, for a closed
orientation of a handle with respect to a base, a gap disposed
between the handle vents and the base vents.
[0075] As described herein, an assembly can include one or more
processors configured to execute instructions stored in memory;
memory configured to store processor-executable instructions; a
media drive configured to store information and to respond to
instructions executed by at least one of the one or more
processors.
[0076] As described herein, an assembly can include a server
disposed in a server chassis where the server includes one or more
processors configured to execute instructions for communication
with one or more media drives; and media drives seated in
respective media drive trays disposed in respective media drive
bays of the server chassis, where each of the media drive bays
includes a side wall, where each of the side walls includes a front
facing surface recessed from a front side of the server chassis,
the front facing surface configured to support force exerted by
rotation of a hinge end of a handle of one of the media drive trays
to extract the media drive tray from a respective one of the media
drive bays and a stop configured to receive a locking tab extending
from a hinge end of a handle of the one of the media drive trays to
lock the media drive tray in the respective one of the media drive
bays.
[0077] As described herein, an assembly can include media drive
bays with a rectangular, horizontal orientation and with side walls
where each of the side walls is an individual, vertical side wall.
As described herein, an assembly can include media drive bays with
a rectangular, vertical orientation and with side walls where each
of the side walls is a portion of a continuous horizontal wall
(e.g., a wall that spans multiple bays).
[0078] As described herein, an assembly can include an air mover
configured to draw air through one or more media drive bays. As
described herein, an assembly can include a processor or processing
unit configured to execute instructions to initiate communication
with a media drive via a connector for communication of
information. As described herein, an assembly can include a
processing unit (e.g., a processor) configured to execute
instructions to initiate transmission of a status signal (e.g.,
status indicator) via a light guide of a rail of a media drive
tray.
[0079] The term "circuit" or "circuitry" may be used herein (e.g.,
in the summary, description, and/or claims). As is well known in
the art, the term "circuitry" includes all levels of available
integration, e.g., from discrete logic circuits to the highest
level of circuit integration such as VLSI, and includes
programmable logic components programmed to perform the functions
of an embodiment as well as general-purpose or special-purpose
processors programmed with instructions to perform those functions.
Such circuitry may optionally rely on one or more computer-readable
media that includes computer-executable instructions. As described
herein, a computer-readable medium may be a storage device (e.g., a
memory card, a storage disk, etc.) and referred to as a
computer-readable storage medium.
[0080] While various examples of circuits or circuitry may be shown
or discussed, FIG. 9 depicts a block diagram of an illustrative
computer system 900. The system 900 may be a desktop computer
system, such as one of the ThinkCentre.RTM. or ThinkPad.RTM. series
of personal computers sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville,
N.C., or a workstation computer, such as the ThinkStation.RTM.
workstation computer sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville, N.C.;
however, as apparent from the description herein, a satellite, a
base, a server or other machine may include other features or only
some of the features of the system 900 (e.g., consider the
ThinkServer.RTM. server sold by Lenovo (US) Inc. of Morrisville,
N.C.).
[0081] As shown in FIG. 9, the system 900 includes a so-called
chipset 910. A chipset refers to a group of integrated circuits, or
chips, that are designed to work together. Chipsets are usually
marketed as a single product (e.g., consider chipsets marketed
under the brands INTEL.RTM., AMD.RTM., etc.).
[0082] In the example of FIG. 9, the chipset 910 has a particular
architecture, which may vary to some extent depending on brand or
manufacturer. The architecture of the chipset 910 includes a core
and memory control group 920 and an I/O controller hub 950 that
exchange information (e.g., data, signals, commands, etc.) via, for
example, a direct management interface or direct media interface
(DMI) 942 or a link controller 944. In the example of FIG. 9, the
DMI 942 is a chip-to-chip interface (sometimes referred to as being
a link between a "northbridge" and a "southbridge").
[0083] The core and memory control group 920 include one or more
processors 922 (e.g., single core or multi-core) and a memory
controller hub 926 that exchange information via a front side bus
(FSB) 924. As described herein, various components of the core and
memory control group 920 may be integrated onto a single processor
die, for example, to make a chip that supplants the conventional
"northbridge" style architecture.
[0084] The memory controller hub 926 interfaces with memory 940.
For example, the memory controller hub 926 may provide support for
DDR SDRAM memory (e.g., DDR, DDR2, DDR3, etc.). In general, the
memory 940 is a type of random-access memory (RAM). It is often
referred to as "system memory".
[0085] The memory controller hub 926 further includes a low-voltage
differential signaling interface (LVDS) 932. The LVDS 932 may be a
so-called LVDS Display Interface (LDI) for support of a display
device 992 (e.g., a CRT, a flat panel, a projector, etc.). A block
938 includes some examples of technologies that may be supported
via the LVDS interface 932 (e.g., serial digital video, HDMI/DVI,
display port). The memory controller hub 926 also includes one or
more PCI-express interfaces (PCI-E) 934, for example, for support
of discrete graphics 936. Discrete graphics using a PCI-E interface
has become an alternative approach to an accelerated graphics port
(AGP). For example, the memory controller hub 926 may include a
16-lane (x16) PCI-E port for an external PCI-E-based graphics card.
A system may include AGP or PCI-E for support of graphics. As
described herein, a display may be a sensor display (e.g.,
configured for receipt of input using a stylus, a finger, etc.). As
described herein, a sensor display may rely on resistive sensing,
optical sensing, or other type of sensing.
[0086] The I/O hub controller 950 includes a variety of interfaces.
The example of FIG. 9 includes a SATA interface 951, one or more
PCI-E interfaces 952 (optionally one or more legacy PCI
interfaces), one or more USB interfaces 953, a LAN interface 954
(more generally a network interface), a general purpose I/O
interface (GPIO) 955, a low-pin count (LPC) interface 970, a power
management interface 961, a clock generator interface 962, an audio
interface 963 (e.g., for speakers 994), a total cost of operation
(TCO) interface 964, a system management bus interface (e.g., a
multi-master serial computer bus interface) 965, and a serial
peripheral flash memory/controller interface (SPI Flash) 966,
which, in the example of FIG. 9, includes BIOS 968 and boot code
990. With respect to network connections, the I/O hub controller
950 may include integrated gigabit Ethernet controller lines
multiplexed with a PCI-E interface port. Other network features may
operate independent of a PCI-E interface.
[0087] The interfaces of the I/O hub controller 950 provide for
communication with various devices, networks, etc. For example, the
SATA interface 951 provides for reading, writing or reading and
writing information on one or more drives 980 such as HDDs, SDDs or
a combination thereof. The I/O hub controller 950 may also include
an advanced host controller interface (AHCI) to support one or more
drives 980. The PCI-E interface 952 allows for wireless connections
982 to devices, networks, etc. The USB interface 953 provides for
input devices 984 such as keyboards (KB), one or more optical
sensors, mice and various other devices (e.g., microphones,
cameras, phones, storage, media players, etc.). On or more other
types of sensors may optionally rely on the USB interface 953 or
another interface (e.g., I.sup.2C, etc.).
[0088] In the example of FIG. 9, the LPC interface 970 provides for
use of one or more ASICs 971, a trusted platform module (TPM) 972,
a super I/O 973, a firmware hub 974, BIOS support 975 as well as
various types of memory 976 such as ROM 977, Flash 978, and
non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) 979. With respect to the TPM 972, this
module may be in the form of a chip that can be used to
authenticate software and hardware devices. For example, a TPM may
be capable of performing platform authentication and may be used to
verify that a system seeking access is the expected system.
[0089] The system 900, upon power on, may be configured to execute
boot code 990 for the BIOS 968, as stored within the SPI Flash 966,
and thereafter processes data under the control of one or more
operating systems and application software (e.g., stored in system
memory 940). An operating system may be stored in any of a variety
of locations and accessed, for example, according to instructions
of the BIOS 968. Again, as described herein, a satellite, a base, a
server or other machine may include fewer or more features than
shown in the system 900 of FIG. 9. Further, the system 900 of FIG.
9 is shown as optionally including cell phone circuitry 995, which
may include GSM, CDMA, etc., types of circuitry configured for
coordinated operation with one or more of the other features of the
system 900.
CONCLUSION
[0090] Although examples of methods, devices, systems, etc., have
been described in language specific to structural features and/or
methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter
defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the
specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features
and acts are disclosed as examples of forms of implementing the
claimed methods, devices, systems, etc.
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